Recently, NACDS provided a summary of the 2014 midterm elections, with an emphasis on the federal level. This memo includes an overview of the state elections, which will shape the operating environment on pivotal state issues.

French natural beauty retailer L'Occitane has opened doors to its latest U.S. store in Atlanta, marking the retailer’s largest flagship in the United States and one of its first new “Provence Home” concept stores.

CVS Caremark has entered into new clinical affiliations with four regional health systems, representing the first clinical affiliations to include clinical collaborations with MinuteClinic combined with data on interventions performed by CVS pharmacists.

Beauty company Coty has announced that Georgia May Jagger — supermodel and face of both Coty's color cosmetics brand, Rimmel, and fragrance brand Just Cavalli — has accepted an appointment as the first Coty global ambassador in the fight against blood cancer.

The Little Clinic, which operates 114 retail-based health clinics in seven states, has selected VisualDx, a mobile app and online resource used by doctors to diagnose and treat disease, to enhance the care its staff provides to patients, VisualDx maker Logical Images announced.

The Generic Pharmaceutical Association announced its support of Georgia SB 370, introduced by pharmacist and Sen. Buddy Carter, R-Ga. District 1, because it will allow unimpeded patient access to interchangeable biologics.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — At the request of the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals seized dietary supplements manufactured and held by Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, located in Norcross, Ga., after FDA investigators found the products contained 1, 3-Dimethylamylamine HCl (DMAA) or its chemical equivalent, the agency announced Monday.

“This company has a responsibility to ensure its products are safe for distribution and human consumption,” stated Melinda Plaisier, the FDA’s associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. “We have taken action to protect consumers and demonstrate our commitment to their safety by keeping these products from entering the distribution system.”

The retail value of the seized products is more than $2 million, the agency estimated.

A complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia alleged that the products were adulterated according to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they contain DMAA, an unapproved food additive that is deemed unsafe under the law.

The FDA is urging consumers not to buy or use supplements containing DMAA, which can elevate blood pressure and could lead to cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, shortness of breath and tightening of the chest. Given the known biological activity of DMAA, the ingredient may be particularly dangerous when used with caffeine. Consumers should check labels and avoid any dietary supplements containing DMAA, which is referred to on different product labels by 10 possible names. The FDA has warned consumers about the health risks of DMAA on its web site.

On Nov. 12, 2013, U.S. Marshals seized more than 1,500 cases of finished goods and more than 1,200 pounds of in-process/raw material goods from the Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals facility.

During the FDA’s inspection of Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, which began in October, investigators identified 11 products that were labeled as containing DMAA or its chemical equivalent. These products included Black Widow, ECA Xtreme, Fastin, Fastin-XR, Lipodrene, Lipodrene Hardcore, Lipodrene XR, Lipodrene Xtreme, Lipotherm, Stimerex-ES, and Yellow Scorpion. The investigators also observed bulk DMAA raw ingredients at the facility. Prior to the seizure, on Nov. 1, 2013, the FDA issued an administrative detention, temporarily holding the products until they were seized.

Dietary supplements containing DMAA are illegal and the FDA is using all available tools at its disposal to remove these products from the market. In 2012, the FDA issued warning letters to companies notifying them that products containing DMAA need to be taken off the market or reformulated to remove this substance.

Bi-Lo Holdings announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co. to acquire 22 Piggly Wiggly stores with approximately 1,200 store employees in South Carolina and coastal Georgia.

In a study scheduled for publication in the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found that adding flow restrictors to bottles can limit the amount of liquid medication a child could access even if child-resistant caps are missing or improperly closed.

Beginning August 1, more than 2.4 million Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia members will have access to SoloHealth Stations, located in more than 125 select Walmart and Sam's Club stores in Georgia, the companies announced on Friday.

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SPECIAL REPORTS

Are we in the midst of a beauty revolution? Perhaps. It is no secret that the ever-changing beauty category is all about trends, but one could argue that we are embarking on an especially interesting time in beauty as technology is changing the way consumers shop and new innovations strive to break through the noise.

In this beauty report, Drug Store News takes a deeper dive into some of the leading trends that are reshaping beauty.more ...

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In this issue, DSN examines PricewaterhouseCoopers' "Top Health Industry Issues for 2015;" takes you on a tour of Murad, shares beauty trends and insights and delves into location-based technology and how it is revolutionizing health, retail.Click here to view the issue.